Holiday Activities on a Budget

 Today I want to talk to you about the holidays...specifically, the activities that we indulge in this time of year.



Why shouldn't we indulge? This is a season of joy, of laughter, of family. Making memories each year really is a priceless opportunity we should be taking advantage of! Unfortunately our wallets don't always agree. Dinners, movies, museums, lights, sledding, all of it can get pretty pricy. 



I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be. This year, more than ever, I want to make positive memories with my kids this season. I'll do it on a budget, and you can too. Ain't nobody need the memory of debt hanging over their heads! I asked some friends their favorite frugal holiday activities to partake in, and I wanted to share that list with you today.  So get ready to make some affordable memories, my peeps, with these simple ideas:


  • Drive around looking at lights. (There are plenty of free options for this, but if you want to splurge, there are affordable paid options as well.)
  • Attend a community Nativity pageant.
  • Find a local hill and go sledding.
  • Go to a library and check out holiday books to read with family - you can read a book a night if you want to make it official.
  • Go on an elf hunt - one sponsored by your community, or one you make yourself!
  • Build snowmen or snow sculptures - take it up a notch by spraying with colored water.
  • Go to a high school holiday choir or band concert.
  • Watch a holiday movie. If you use a streaming service, you can watch a movie a night for a 12-days-of-Christmas kind of a thing. 
  • Do a 12 days of SERVICE. Find someone you can provide a small act of service to every day. Make it a family event. This is a FREE printable resource with ideas.
  • Go caroling - yep, I said it!
  • Write a heartfelt letter of caring and love - make it part of a gift exchange perhaps! Great socially distant way to keep in touch.
  • Hot cocoa and game night. (or perhaps puzzle night)
  • Make homemade holiday-themed treats.
  • Make homemade holiday-themed crafts. Here are some ideas!
  • Cook a fancy (but affordable) meal together.
  • Have a Zoom or Google Meet meeting and do a lip sync challenge.
  • Crank the holiday music and have fun singing and dancing together.

Your turn...share what fun activities you do with your loved ones this time of year!



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